Welcome to Close Call Sports. CCS objectively tracks and analyzes close and controversial calls in sport, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game. Developed from The Left Field Corner: MLB Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (UEFL), whose purpose is to objectively track and analyze umpire ejections, video instant replay reviews and their corresponding calls, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Umpire Jeff Kellogg Tackles Fan in Baltimore Field Intrusion

Home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg tackled a fan during a field intrusion incident at Baltimore's Camden Yards Friday night. Not suprisingly, the fan appeared intoxicated and was shirtless as he rounded third and slid into home plate. As the fan stood up and prepared to run elsewhere, Kellogg grew tired of waiting for ballpark secuity to apprehend the culprit and took matters into his own hands.

This is not the first time an MLB umpire has grown tired of waiting for Baltimore police officers to put an end to a field intruder's folly: In 2010, a drunken fan was permitted nearly two minutes of unadultered disruption before a clearly perturbed Bill Hohn yelled and gestured at the fan to stop.

In the end, that particular fan listened to umpire Hohn, while ignoring the officers.

Armed with Camden security's deplorable and embarassing history, Kellogg decided that enough was enough and it was time for an umpire to do a police officer's job. As for the game itself, the Oakland A's defeated the Orioles, 5-2.

Kellogg received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Ferris State University before becoming an MLB umpire.

Trivia: Other umpires who hold degrees or share experiences like Kellogg's that could relate to tackling criminal field intruders include crewmate (and first base umpire) Eric Cooper (Boardmember, Mentor Iowa, an organization that helps delinquent children), Ted Barrett (former amatuer boxer), Ed Hickox (Detective with the Daytona Beach Shores Police Department), Dan Bellino (J.D. holder, passed the bar exam), Mark Carlson (US Marine Corps, Ret.), Laz Diaz (US Marine Corps Reserve, Ret., who was attacked by a fan in Chicago in 2003), Doug Eddings (Would want to be a Secret Service agent if not an umpire), Andy Fletcher (Would be in law enforcement if not an umpire), Tim Tschida (Former Cadet Lt. Colonel, JROTC) and Joe West (East Carolina safety before becoming a three-year starting quarterback at Elon College).

I remember when Philadelphia had its fan running on the field and getting tased. MLB put that video up no problem, too bad it doesn't look like they'll do the same this time...... at least theres youtube.

Baltimore also had a streaker on the field on opening day. I don't know what it is over there, but it's as if Baltimore police that works those games, presumably retired or off duty cops, don't care. Because they don't do their jobs, it gives fans an extra excuse or even incentive to run wild all over the grass. You'd think that the Orioles would have learned after Bill Hohn had to verbally judo the kid two years ago, but I guess no lesson learned.

Wow a lot of umps And referees seem to have criminal justice or criminology degrees or experience. I wonder if the correlation between officiating and criminology is a causal relationship or if it's just coincidence. I suppose law enforcement goes somewhat hand in hand with rules enforcement, public safety to sports player safety. If anyone ever finds out, I'm sure it'll be this site.

According to an MLB spokesman earlier today, Kellogg will not be suspended or otherwise disciplined for tackling the fan who ran on the field. After all, Baltimore security is likely the worst in all of baseball whereas the Red Sox and Dodgers field security is generally the best at taking down streaker fans.

Jimmy - it IS kind of interesting about that - my local softball group, for instance, has more than a few police/retired police/state troopers on our roster. one guy, in fact, was a Senior Investigator with the NYSP, and now has one of the prime assignments any trooper can get - being on the Governor's protection detail.

No disrespect intended to Laz Diaz or Mark Carlson, but I don't believe either are "Retired" from the Marine Corps. They both served in the Marine Corps but did not earn a retirement by serving the required amount of years or receiving an early medical retirement. It's a small point, but some vets hold retirement status in very high regard. They're studs for serving, but they'd also probably be the first to point out they didn't retire.

@2:46 AM, ever seen that youtube video of the Red Sox guy completely decking the drunk fan who ran on the field? Great form tackle. Dodgers had a fan on the field vs the Nationals on Saturday night during in the 9th inning. Took them under 15 seconds from the guy getting on the field and sprinting out toward Bryce Harper until security took him down. Guy never made it to Harper.